Visually, NBA Live 2007 is centering on taking away the dark contrasts and shadows. With this in effect, it looks more sleek and bright. They clearly didnt want a moody game anymore. The lead art designer mentioned that skin quality was a major priority for the team. They wanted the players to sweat and look as if they have just came out of the shower at the end of the game. Unfortunately, right after tip-off, the players were drenched with sweat, so the perspiration came a little early in this build. They will of course fix this in due time, but its definitely interesting to see how much sweat the players will progressively have throughout the game. The coaches on the sidelines are animated and resemble their real life counterparts.
Also included in the visual department this year is over 200-300 pass animations, 50-75 Signature free throw animations, and names under the players' feet have been removed. With the players' names being removed, a new HUD is introduced. The HUD is in the bottom corners for the gamers to recognize which player they are in control of. For all the complaints last year of the free-form camera being removed, NBA Live 2007 brings it back for those who want to see every intricate detail of the game.
As for the gameplay, the team has thrown out the '94 system and introduced all new computer A.I. They took their time with building up this engine and want to keep adding new features with the upcoming years. New to this years version is the Superstar Types. There are five different superstar types and three levels of which they could be. The five offensive types showcased were High Flyer, Playmaker, Post, Scorer, and 3PT. The only two of them should need a clarifying. Playmaker is a superstar type that is known for passing. Scorer is for players who shoot the pretty jump shots over a rising defender. The different levels could be compared to a level 2 High Flyer Ricky Davis to a level 3 High Flyer in Lebron James.
